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| Edison nursing instructor, Carla Strater, right, pins student Chantelle Clark on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012, at the college’s fall pinning ceremony for nursing students. |
The pinning ceremony is a time-honored tradition in which the graduate nurse is presented to family and friends as a professional who is about to practice nursing and the graduate is usually “pinned” by the faculty members who have worked with the students throughout their course of study. Each school has a unique pin, which serves as a symbol of the successful completion of a rigorous curriculum, which prepares its graduates to administer to the sick and injured and promote health through the practice of nursing.
Edison President Dr. Cristobal Valdez gave an opening speech praising the hard work and determination of the students, while recognizing the sacrifices made by the family members who have supported them along the way to completing their degree.
“For a nursing student, being pinned signifies the transition from student nurse to professional nurse and the pinning ceremony provides an opportunity for public acknowledgement of this journey,” said Gwen Stevenson, dean of nursing and health sciences. “Our students tend to develop close bonds with faculty members and the ceremony provides closure to the end of a long, challenging course of study. With the added presence of family members and friends the ceremony is filled with great emotion and meaning for all.”
Each of the 33 graduates had the opportunity to submit a word of thanks to those who have made the end of this portion of their education possible, which was read as they received their pin from an Edison nursing faculty member. Many used the opportunity to share individual stories of sacrifice and triumphing over adversity, the bonds that were formed between classmates and the deep appreciation held for the Edison nursing faculty.
“The pinning ceremony is a bittersweet moment for the faculty, since it’s bringing our time with these students to a close,” said Julie Willenbrink, assistant professor of nursing. “We prepare them for the nursing profession and watch them grow from inexperienced caregivers to graduate nursing students who are very eager to learn and begin their careers.”
Graduates of the program will move on to the next phase of their career, which involves taking the registered nurse licensing exam and seeking employment.
The nursing program recently underwent a site visit from the Ohio Board of Nursing, an accreditation process that’s performed every five years. The results of the review will be made public in March of 2013. In 2011, the program earned an eight-year accreditation from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, the highest level a program can receive.